It’s About What Your Client Wants
Just last week, I designed an email flyer that looked totally horrendous. The headline was set to a novelty font. Effects like drop shadows and embossing were improperly used, leaving a tacky impression.
Thankfully, I had nothing to do with that; it was my client’s decision. I tried my best to explain to him why such a look wouldn’t match the network hardware he wanted to sell. Why I thought simple presentation would work better. But he insisted, so I had no choice but to follow his instructions. It’s not only because he’s paying my bills. Whenever a client avails of my services, he’s actually risking his time and money. Will my output be worth his investment?
It definitely won’t, if you don’t give him what he wants. There’s nothing wrong with trying to convince him that his ideas may be wrong—even downright absurd. But once he makes the final decision, you follow it to the letter. Besides, who said the project must be part of your portfolio?
Of course, there are some non-negotiables: if the font size demanded makes the copy illegible, you’ll have to say no. The very basic rules are never meant to be broken. Unless there’s a good reason to do so. If you’re overriden on even the fundamentals, maybe it’s time to consider dropping the project and leaving such a narrow-minded client behind.
I’m now 25, so I mostly defer to the experience of my clients, many of whom are older (and wiser) than me. What may seem totally weird to me may actually be the coup de grâce of my client’s master plan. Come to think of it, the tacky look is starting to grow on me.
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POSTED IN: Living as a Freelancer
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